UConn Football: Hofstra coordinator has Taftville connections

Thursday

Growing up in Taftville, Dave Patenaude had big football dreams. You know, the kind that take you far away and filled with success.

Growing up in Taftville, Dave Patenaude had big football dreams. You know, the kind that take you far away and filled with success.

Today, Patenaude returns home to Connecticut as the offensive coordinator for Hofstra as the Pride opens its season against the UConn Huskies at Rentschler Field.

In just his second year at Hofstra, the St. Bernard High School product said this homecoming of sorts is special to him. He expects nearly “a couple dozen” family and friends, including his father, to be in attendance at the game.

While he bleeds for the Pride, Patenaude is certainly proud that his home state had turned out a major college football program.

“The great job coach (Randy) Edsall and his staff have done in really creating a formidable Big East program,” Patenaude said, “I think that’s something everyone who’s grown up around football in Connecticut is proud of.”

Before landing at Hofstra, Patenaude spent three seasons at Holy Cross. Working with running backs and receivers, Patenaude’s tutelage helped two-time All-American Steve Silva lead the nation in all-purpose yards in 2005.

Just last season, Hofstra quarterback Bryan Savage was fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association and 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-A) in total offense.

Seeing Patenaude strive in the coaching ranks is no surprise to Dave Pesapane, who coached at St. Bernard. He remembers seeing the traits that made Patenaude a success then and now.

“He was a very, very competitive quarterback,” he said. “He demanded of himself, I wouldn’t say perfection, but he wanted everything to be done as well as it possibly could be done. He insisted other players have the same kind of attitude.”

There was so much confidence in Patenaude as the Saints’ field general that one year Pesapane abandoned running an option offense for the wishbone because he knew that his quarterback was able to handle the responsibilities.

Even though the Saints didn’t throw the ball very much, Patenaude was an accurate passer, making him a greater weapon.

No matter how much success Patenaude has had or how much awaits him, he won’t forget his days with the Saints.

“I had a lot of friends who played at NFA and there was always a strong rivalry there,” Patenaude said. “That was always our Thanksgiving Day game. Growing up in the Norwich area, I was seen as a little bit of a traitor. There was always a little something special extra when we faced off against those guys on Thanksgiving.”

Throughout his career, Patenaude has held New England, but especially his home state close to his heart.

After graduating from high school, he went to play for Central Connecticut State, serving as quarterback and strong safety. He then coached running backs for a year at the Coast Guard Academy before heading to Springfield College. There, he was in charge of the running backs and wide receivers while he also completed his master’s degree in physical education and sports management. Patenaude jumped over to Fordham, where over a four-year span, he served in several capacities.

Another four years were spent in the Ivy League with Columbia before he took the helm at the University of New Haven for two seasons before the program folded.

Having been through such a challenging situation makes Patenpaude more appreciative of the opportunity he has with the Pride.

He joined the team last season as its quarterbacks coach/passing coordinator and was promoted after the season to his current position.

“This is a great place,” he said. “There’s always been a long tradition here; there’s been a great tradition on offense, especially with the quarterbacks and receivers, so when you’re put in that situation, there is a level of expectation here... to be a successful program.”

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